Engine



' ENGINE- Y Filed April 14, 1943 s sheets-sheet 1 Inventor Oct. 28, 1947.- F; KUC-ERA" 2,429,725

' Filed April 1'4, 1943 JSheets-Shebt. 2

Iumtor Fran/l ween av WW Em i Patented Oct. 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENGINE Frank Kucera, Lincoln, Nebr.

Application April 14, 1943, Serial No. 483,008

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to internal combustion engine systems in which the power generated by the combustion of fuel is utilized in a turbine, while compressor units with reciprocating pistons are used to furnish and to compress the air necessary for the combustion. More particularly, the invention relates to arrangements or systems of the above-named type in which the combustion gasesunder very high pressure are stored in a tank or other receiver and are supplied to the turbine from said tank or receiver. In such a case the combustion chamber may be directly associated with the compressor.

The invention comprises improvements permitting to control that portion of the entire cycle which takes place in the reciprocating compressor unit; as it has been found that this type of regulation can be performed with means which are simple and is more effective than regulation in other parts of the system. According to the invention therefore, the quantity of air to be compressed and which determines the pressure of the container is directly controlled by an air admission slide valve provided on the compressor unit and adjusted in conformity with the load placed on the turbine shaft. The said slide valve preferably controls one of two or more admission ports, in order to reduce its size and stroke, as a minimum of air, representing a considerable quantity, has to be admitted in any case in order to obtain a pressure in the combustion chamber which is sufllcient to overcome the pressure in the receiver or tank and therefore merely the surplus over this minimum need be subjected to control.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the engine.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the cylinder and head structure.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the automatic air valve.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the automatic air valve.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numer als designate like parts, it .can be seen that numeral 5 denotes a cylinder block having a water jacket, while numeral Ii denotes a combustion chamber bolted on to the cylinder block 5 as at I.

The bottom of the combustion chamber 6 is closed to the cylinder block 5 excepting for small ports 8. A valve 3 having a dep nding stem [0 2 slidably disposed through an opening in the bottom of the combustion chamber 3 carries a cross member or washer H and between which and the bottom of the combustion chamber 6 a coiled compression spring i2 is located for normally holding the valve 9 seated in a basin or seat I3, so that the products of combustion cannot enter the cylinder block 5. The combustion chamber 6 has a removable head H secured in place by screws l5 and this head has a fuel supply line I6 and an igniter or spark plug l1. Numeral l8 denotes an exhaust pipe which extends from a chamber l9 suitably secured to one side of the combustion chamber 6 by screws 20. At this side of the combustion chamber 6 is a basin-like structure or seat having ports 2|, 22 therein and at the outside of this basin or seat a valve'23is engage-.

able. This valve has a stem 24 projecting inward 1y through an opening in the basin or seat structure 2| and has a cross member or Washer 25 between which and the basin 2| a coiled compression spring 26 is provided for holding the valve 23 in port closing position.

Additional force exerting means is provided for the valve 23 and this consists of an elongated plunger 21 operative through the outside wall of the chamber l9 and through a packing gland 28 carried by the said wall of the chamber IS. A plate 30 is secured by tie-bolts 3|, 3| to the chamber l9 and interposed between this plate 30 and a cross pin 32 on the plunger 21 is a coiled compression spring 33 which serves to urge the plunger 21 inwardly so that its inner end normally bears in a recess in the central portion of the valve 23.

The exhaust pipe it extends to a pressure storage tank 34 which has a relief valve 35 and a gauge 36. This tank 34 may be supported by a suitable bracket 31 on the crankcase 38 of the engine.

Numeral 38 denotes a turbine of conventional design and a conduit 40 extends from the tank 3 to jets M on this turbine 39, the conduit 40 having a control valve 42 therein.

The turbine 39 drives a shaft 43 which represents what would ordinarily be the drive shaft in an internal combustion engine, this shaft 43 having cranks (not shown) for driving a piston 44 in the cylinder block 5 by a pitman or piston rod 45. Obviously, the engine may be of the multiple cylinder type if desired.

A distributor 46 of conventional design is actuated by a rider l'l riding cam formations 48 on the shaft 43. Numeral 49 represents a battery and numeral 50, the connections between the battow and the distributor u. Numeral n denotes a lead from the distributor 40 to. one or more which act against a collar 54 slidable on the drive shaft 43. Between the collar 54 and a formation II on the shaft 43 is a coiled compression spring ll.

A pivotal link 51 extends from the slide collar It to a rocker 58 which, in turn, operates a stem or shaft 59 controlling the fuel pump 80 a rocker 13 which acts on a link I2 in turn connected to a plunger II for regulating air supply to the cylinder, the plunger ll operating in a guide 80. The fuel pump is operated by a plunger 83 by riding a cam 64 on the shaft 43. It is controlled by stem 59 and supplies fuel by way of the pipe it to combustion chamber 8. The fuel is drawn.

byway of a pipe 62 from a tank BI.

Obviously, in the operation of the engine, air

will be sucked into the engine block it on the down stroke of the piston 44, through ports 65,

for in this movement of the piston 44, the valve numeral 61 allows for controlling air admission by a plunger =68 operating in a guide 69 into which opens a port 10 from the inside of the cylinder block. A rod ll extends downwardly from the slide member 68 and connects by a link I2 to a rocker 13 which, in turn, connects to the rocker 58. Thus the speed of the engine and the action of the governor arms 53 regulates admission of air to the cylinder by way of the port 10.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an internal combustion engine system with a rotating engine, a shaft driven by the same, a receiver, an air compressor comprising a cylinder and a reciprocating piston driven by the rotating engine, a closed combustion chamber of constant volume arranged in proximity to said compressor cylinder and provided with fuel admission openings, with a set of exhaust openings and with a. set of air admission openings, the latter communicating with the compressor cylinder, a spring pressed air admission valve arranged within said combustion chamber,

controlling the admission of air into said combustion chamber, a connection between the exhaust openings of the said chamber and the receiver, a spring pressed exhaust valve, outside said combustion chamber for controlling the discharge from said chamber, an adjustable slide valve controlling the air admission to the compressor cylinder, a centrifugal governor on the shaft of the rotary engine and means linking said governor to said slide valve to adjust the admission of air to the compressor cylinder.

- 2. In an internal combustion engine system with a rotating engine a shaft driven by the same, a receiver for storing the gases under pressure driving the rotating engine, an air compressor comprising a cylinder and a reciprocating piston, driven by the shaft associated withthe rotating engine, a closed combustion chamber of constant volume, arranged in proximity to the air compressor cylinder and provided with a fuel admission port, with a set of exhaust ports, and with a set of air admission ports, the latter being in communication with the compressor cylinder, a spring controlled inlet valve in said closed chamber controlling the air admission ports, means for supplying saidcombustion chamber with liquid fuel, comprising a fuel pump, means for lgniting the mixture of air and fuel, within said closed chamber, a spring pressed exhaust valve on the exterior of said combustion chamber for controlling the set of exhaust ports. a communication channel between said exhaust ports of the combustion chamber and said receiver, an ad justable slide valve controlling the air admission to the compressor cylinder, a governor associated with the rotating engine shaft, connecting links between said governor, said slide valve and said fuel pump adjusting simultaneously the admission of air to the compressor cylinder and the admission of fuel to the combustion chamber.

FRANK KUCERA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,165,023 Rich Dec. 21, 1915 1,189,399 Skaggs July 4, 1916 1,867,917 Larson July 19, 1932 2,078,956 Lysholm May 4, 1937 2,147,935 Steiner Feb. 21, 1939 2,225,311 Lysholm Dec. 17, 1940 2,225,310 Lindhagen Dec. 1'7, 1940 

